Gaffer: "Local Derbies Are Special Games"

Manager Simon Grayson is looking forward to the first local derby of the season on Friday night.

North End enjoyed plenty of success against the local sides last season, and the PNE boss is hoping for more of the same tomorrow night.

"These local derbies are special games, we had some good games last year with Blackburn, Burnley and Bolton and it will be no different with Wigan.

"They have had some good times being in the Premier League, winning the FA Cup, and they suffered the disappointment of going into League One but now they are back into the Championship and they're looking to progress and stabilise as a football club.

"We know what to expect, they've recruited over the summer and on deadline day and they have got some threats but we will be concentrating on what we need to do to effect the game as well.

"We are at home, we are going to take the game to them and we've got to make sure that we play with the same tempo as we did in the Cardiff game and probably for the first 74 minutes that we did against Brentford.

PNE's last game at Deepdale saw the Lilywhites claim the three points with an impressive 3-0 win over Cardiff City, and the gaffer is looking to build on the performance from that game as well as Tuesday's cup win at Bournemouth going into Friday's game.

"It's a game we are looking forward to, we are looking to build on Tuesday night's performance and the previous Tuesday's against Cardiff and the performance from the first 74 minutes against Brentford.

"We are looking forward to it, it's a local derby, and when you're involved in a local derby you want to make sure that you're giving your supporters the opportunity to go in to work with the bragging rights on the Monday morning.

"There will be a bit of spice about it, but ultimately it's about two teams desperate for three points."

You can hear more from the manager on Friday's game, including the latest team news and more by clicking on the video below.